Motorcycle tow hitch, TMS800 800lb front wheel hauler

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Well, the shop called and said the truck was ready. I brought along an extra 2 quarts of oil. With the bike mounted on the hitch, inclined about 10°, I took a measurement of the dipstick oil level.

Then added a quart and took another measurement. The oil level went up about 1/2", not quite enuff to guarantee lubrication of the tranny.

Then added a second quart and took another measurement. The oil level went up an additional 1", a total of 1.5" over normal. This should be adequate to lubricate the tranny.

This +2 quart oil level should look like this purple line:

And, we're back home...

 

[MaxPete]

Hokey Dokey - please find attached the revised write-up with the edits requested by 2M.

I got my bike hauler unit last night and it appears to be OK - and will be hugely improved with the mods devised by 2M

Cheers,

Pete

 

[MaxPete]

Wow - 2 quarts. Amazing it took that much.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Just read your latest edits, Pete. Looks fine.

Looks like I may have screwed-up your last page with this "adding oil" trick...

 

[MaxPete]

Well, I’ve been thinking about that. It seems to me that there MUST be a more elegant way of assuring that those gears get lubed than adding two quarts of oil.

Hmmmmmm.....

 

[member3480]

The only thing different that I do is I don't strap to the bar.Strap to the trailer hitch bar under the car/truck to keep the bounce factory down for long tows. The ones I made and used I must have put thousands of miles on them and towed everything from a dirt bike to a full dress Harley and pulled plenty of people broke down on highway off so they weren't killed with the tow rate of the highway. Cops use to look at me like I was nuts because there is a fine here in NJ if you try to push your car with another car on highway and you can't push your bike with another bike off road also. Been there. ONLY approve towing vehicles are allowed to tow you....... BULLSHIT in 10 seconds I got your bike on this and I am gone.LOL

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

I left the extra oil in there, totaling 5 quarts!
Been riding around, up to 7,000 rpm, no issues.
Go figure...

 

[Jim]

So much for the "Caution Do Not Overfill" warning.....

 

[MaxPete]

5 US quarts is more than 4.7 litres. That’s 2.2 litres OVER capacity.

Amazing.....

 

[Tomterrific]

I think I'll get one in case my truck breaks down. The bike can push it home!

A modification may be to use ratchet strap mechanisms to hold the front tire firmly in its cradle.

Tt

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

...A modification may be to use ratchet strap mechanisms to hold the front tire firmly in its cradle...

Great, Tom. Show us whutcha come up with...

 

[Tomterrific]

I saw a rat rod at Bonneville with a motorcycle tow rig. The up-down was a screw like a trailer tongue jack. The wheel cradle was 3 bent rods to match the front wheel/tire. The cradle had ratchet clamp mechanisms bolted to one side of the cradle and short straps attached to the other side. With the wheel in place the strap went into the ratchet and tightened to hold it very secure. I can't remember any tie downs to the bars. I have wanted to build something similar using a trailer jack as a beginning.

Thanks for the original write up 2M. The device seems much nicer with your simple mods.
Tt

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

I've seen many pics of bike tow setups with just the front wheel lashed to the carrier. Seems to work fine, as long as you know the risks.

Pics like these give me the heeby-jeebys:



Those are probably just from backing-up, but still make my skin crawl...

 

[MaxPete]

Yikes!

Yup - no “astern” operation permitted!

 

[Tomterrific]

That is going to happen in a tight turn. Hopefully it'll straighten up when we drive down the road. A great mod would be a pivot on the contraption so the bike would not turn off the angled steering head.

Tt

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

And, another use for the TMS800 hauler.

Tractor with front-end-loader bucket.
A clamp-on 2" receiver.
The TMS800 hauler.


Attach the 2" receiver.


Attach the TMS800.


Insert tractor into barn.


Work the bucket to set the TMS800 flatly on the floor.


Insert motorcycle.


The Victory's front wheel is the same 3.5" width as my XS1B, and fits snugly in there. Without any clamping or straps, it stably holds the bike upright.

The TMS800, with the wood side-spacer strips, is now like a front wheel vise chock.

The Victory has no centerstand, and I needed to fuss with it's handlebar and controls, get them at desired height and angles, plus other fiddly things. I was able to twist, torque, and wrangle on that thing at will, and the bike just stayed vertical.

Also, the tractor can lift the bike's front wheel, several inches or as necessary to be able to fit some blocks under the frame. Suitable for servicing the wheels, brakes, and such.

Without a tractor, I suppose a steel frame could be welded-up, or an engine stand modified, to hold the TMS800. Then its lifting feature could be used...

 

[MaxPete]

Very clever Steve!

 

[ckahleer]

Just brainstorming here. What about these options.
1. If just a short trip, don't worry about it. How long could you tow without damage?
2. Tow with bike idling in neutral. How long is too long to let a bike idle.
3 . pull over and start bike now and then. How often.
4. Does any of this matter. will oil get to where it needs to go while at idle. How about revving.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

All good thoughts, ckahleer.

I kinda view it like trying to predict yields from a freshly planted walnut tree.
Dunno, have to wait and see.

There's a lot of machinery out there that functions fine from infrequent lubrication, like mills and lathes. The conventional drive chain could be used as a guide. Freshly lubed, then spun unloaded, how long before it needs another lubrication?

Towing at 60 mph, the rear wheel will be spinning close to 800 rpm, making the output shaft spin about 1,600 rpm. Also, unloaded, just free spinning.

I've heard a lot of concerns and conjectures, but never heard of any failures...

 

[Team Junk]

Saw a bike on a flatbed behind a F350 on 16 in Kerrville yesterday. Looked just like your new bike only with a small cafe fairing. Sure the driver wondered why I was checking him out.